Improvement in ships  winches



` have a single ratchet-wheel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. HUBBARD, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIPS WINCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,639, dated June 30, 1874 application tiled` April 14, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that VI, THEODORE L. HUB- BARD, of Port Huron, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Ships Winches, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of this invention relates to au improvement in Winches of that class which The shaft upon which the ratchet-wheel is mounted hasa continuons rotary motion during the oscillation ot' the brakes orhand-levers 5 and niyinvention consists in so constructing and arranging the pawls as that their leverage can readily be changed as circumstances may require.

Figure l is a perspective view of my winch with a portion of the framing broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing one ofthe lever-pawls thrown up so that the device can be used as an ordinary sin gle-acting winch.

In the drawing, A represents the frame, danged at the bottom to be bolted to the deck. .B is the shat't, transversely journaled through the frame, carrying a wooden spool at each end; at its middleissecured aratchet-wheehG. D D isa pair ot' plates, pivoted by a bolt, a, to the apex ofthe frame, the bolt passing through the middle of each plate, which is in the form of an obtuse angle. E isa crotch socket, bolted or riveted to and between the plates. In the socket is inserted a lever or brake, Ef. The socket is inclined or tangent to the top of the ratchet-wheel. A second brake-socket may be added, if desired. F F are two pairs of plates, pivoted by pins b to theouter ends ot' the plates D. The latter have several pinholes, c, through their ends, through which the pins b may be passed to shorten the throw ot' the plates F F', increasing.;` the leverage in a corresponding ratio. The plates F F are also provided with holes o, to raise their lower ends when the throw is shortened. dis a dog, embracing and bolted to the lower ends of `the plates F, to engage with the ratchet-teeth. d is a similar dog on the lower ends of the plates F for the same purpose.

When the brake is depressed the dogplate F.engaging with the vratchet-teeth, draws them upward and forward, while the dog-plate F serves as a pawl to prevent anyT` retrograde movement of the ratchet. When the lever is raised the dog-plate F pushes down upon the tooth of the ratchet with which it is engaged, rotating the ratchet, while the dog-plateF serves as a pawl to prevent its retrograde movement, so that the ratchet is rotated in both the up and down strokes of the lever, whereby sails can be hoisted, peak and throat at once, reefs taken, center-boards hoisted, and many other kinds of work be done aboard ship easily and very expeditiously. As the work changes from light to heavy, the leverage can be readily changed to suit the requirements while the work is being done. For this purpose a pawl, e, is pivoted on the bolt a, to hold the ratchet While the leverage is being shifted it is also necessary when the device is used as a single-geared winch, which is done by throwing the plate F over onto the lever, as seen in Fig. 2.

l do not claim, broadly, a winch operated by a pulling and pushing pawl actuated by a reciprocating lever but What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the ratchetwheel C and shaft B, ]ournaled in the frame A, of the angular plates D, pivoted in said frame by the bolt a, and provided with pin-holes c, to vary the throw ot' the plates F F', the lever-socket E, and the dog-plates F F', pivoted to the ends of the plates D, and provided with pin-holes c', corresponding to the pin-holes c in plates D, the several plates bein-g constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for lthe purpose set forth.

THEODORE L. HUBBARD.

Witnesses H. F. Ennars, C. E. HUEsTIs. 

